Stink lines

This is completely utterly but I know if you emphasize on your work more, and have patients with yourself you can easily improve, trust me.

To start, do not just copy and paste stuff onto the background, challenge yourself by doing actual editing and not relying on the MKWarehouse do everything for you. At least try to make things match. You say this is a fan fiction well, at least try to make your art convincing like if Ed Boon were to choose you to represent MK newest shit.

I like the way you at least TRIED to make customs sprites, but they need a shitload of work and more dedicated time on them. Like I tell every body, read the "Art Advice" thread for pointers and check your school for art programs. Play around to see which one is the right choice for you.

There's a handful of people that can probably give you very good advice when it comes to making sprites from scratch, but my only advice is don't make them cheesy, try to make them real, life if they were on a game or something.

Meh, normally I do not give this kind of responses but since you are getting into the fake pic business I though I shall give you some handful advice so you will not make the same mistakes repeatedly for the next time you do a new fake.

Good luck.

this fake isnt very interesting. The background isnt original, you just added those two pillars. The life bars should be different try experimenting and try and get a different look in the background and lifebars. Also there is no action, the fighters are just standing there. The smoke on "SMOKE" on the left isnt very good. The only thing i like from the other smoke is the little lighting effect. overall nice try. 2/5

Ok...it's not great. It does need a lot of work. But the plus side is I think most would agree that it's unique. Instead of using the beatin "Scorp vs Sub" or "Reptile vs Liu" fakes...and even resisting the "Human vs Cyber Smoke"( tempting as that one is)-instead of all that, you did a cyber smoke vs a clone of cyber smoke?! Cool.
But here are some of the problems:
1) The lack of action. It is kinda boring if the fighters are standing around.
2) Shadows. Certain fakes shouldn't have shadows because it steals from the overall greatness of the fake....this ani't one a'them!
3) The background....too many fakes use that background. Try making your own, use rendered photos if you want to expirament.
4) Better effects. Let's face it, the smoke effect blows....I'm sorry, but IT DOES!
5) The sprites them selves should be less pixelated, and smoother. The sprite concepts are great, but they are messy.
6) MKDA life bar? ....Really?
7) Don't be affraid to break the mold just cause some of us here haven't first. Make something that looks original. Don't make it look too photo-perfect, cause ya mise well just take pictures of you and your friends, backflippin off garages instead.

Just my $10.50